Apple begins testing Mac OS X 10.5.6 Update

Apple this week began testing Mac OS X 10.5.6, the next in a running series of updates planned for the Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard operating system, which could prove to be the most extensive yet.

The first test build, which reportedly arrive Thursday, is said to contain a sprawling laundry list of system components in need of evaluation. This list, which totals nearly six dozen, names almost every major component -- in addition to minor components like Calculator -- of the Mac OS X, according to people familiar with the matter.

A tally of fixes accompanying the pre-release is said to be similar in stature. Apple appears to be placing a particular emphasis on core audio technologies in the update, along with iCal.

Also listed among the 50+ code corrections are fixes targeting Safari, ColorSync, AddressBook, Printing, Syncing, iChat, and the Finder.

Earlier this week, Apple began widespread testing of QuickTime 7.6, which should improve handling of 5.1 channel audio, in addition to delivering improvements to AAC, MPEG-1, and Apple Lossless tracks.

In its bare delta form, Mac OS X 10.5.6 is said to weigh in just shy of 350MB. The current build number is believed to be 9G21.

Last week, Apple stepped up its testing efforts behind Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, providing a handful of its partners with a glimpse at new builds featuring a Finder completely re-written in Cocoa, the beginnings of Microsoft Exchange integration, and a new ImageBoot function.

No Calculator fix still. Grrr.
Seriously, why does every news item about any system update contain "Apple appears to be placing a particular emphasis on <insert random Mac OS X subsystem name>"? There's just no logic in that.

No Calculator fix still. Grrr.
Seriously, why does every news item about any system update contain "Apple appears to be placing a particular emphasis on <insert random Mac OS X subsystem name>"? There's just no logic in that.

I'm hoping they'll fix the screen sharing issues I have with dual monitors. When switching between monitors, the overlay from the first monitor still appears on the monitor switched to. Others on the Apple forum have similar issues. The is the only major problem I'm having so far.

Well, we'll see if they finally fix the Calculator!
I wasn't TOO serious, sorry if the post has offended anyone.
I was just trying to point out how the news about any upcoming update is very unspecific. For example we have an upcoming QuickTime update which enables specific things. But it's never clear what exactly changes in upcoming OS updates.

No Calculator fix still. Grrr.
Seriously, why does every news item about any system update contain "Apple appears to be placing a particular emphasis on <insert random Mac OS X subsystem name>"? There's just no logic in that.

Word count. Seriously, it seems like every article mentions how they're based in California, and also about their stock or something bad about Microsoft, even if its unrelated.

Going back to the original post, I hope it stops the random halts my system has. About once a day the system will just decide it needs a break for about 30 seconds. This has happened while text edit was the only thing running. I'm fine with my system being slow, but if I'm typing a 5 into text edit, it shouldn't take 30 seconds to figure out how to do it.

Sounds like they have had a mini-project to clean up the audio subsystem. I personally have had no issues with audio on my Mac Pro, except I hate the way my headphones pop when the sound is being used for the first time in a while.

It's like the audio chips have moved in to some sort of low power mode due to not being used and when they are jerked out of it they pop.

Besides the obvious (number incrementing) what is the significance of the build number? ie where does the "G" come from?

9 corresponds to 10.5 Leopard, just as 10.4 Tiger builds started with an 8. 9A builds were 10.5.0, 9B builds were 10.5.1, ..., and 9G builds are 10.5.6. The final number indicates that this is the 21st (or 22nd?) 10.5.6 build.